Braiding machine



Feb. 9 1926.

1,572,713 o. A. FREDl-:RlKsoN BRAIDING MACHINE Fileduune 9', 1925 v ssheets-sheet 1 @a www 26 ATTORNEY Feb. 9,1926. 1,572,713

Y O. A. FREDERICKSON BRAIDI NG MACHINE /N VENTO/f?! ATTORNEY wwwa lll

Patented Feb. 9, 1926.

UNTED STATES PATENT CFEQE.`

OTTO A. FREDERICKSON, OF VETHERSFILB, CONNECTICUT, ASSIGNGR TO THEAMERGAN WREMOLD CCMPANY, OF HARTFORD, CONNECTICUT, A CDREORATONCONNECTCUT.

BRAIDING MACHINE.

Application filed June 9, 1925. Serial No. 35,917.

To all whom t may concern:

lie it known that l, G'rro A. Fnnnnnrcnson, a citizen ot' the UnitedStates, residing` at liiethcrstield, county of artt'ord, and State ofConnecticut, have invented an lmprovenient in lraiding Machines, ofwhich the following description, in connection with the acconipanyingdrawings, is a specifica tion, like characters on the drawingsrepresentingl like parts.

rilhis invention relates to braiding machines, and more particularly tonovel means tor causing the strands of yarn from the outer yarn carriersto pass under some ot the inner carriers and over others.

lleretoiore traversing arms have been ef;- tensively used in braiding`machines to raise and lower the outer strands of yarn to cause the inneryarn carriers to pass alternately over and under the outer strands ofyarn.

An object ot the present invention is to increase the speed at whichbraiding` machines may be driven and to reduce the P maintenance cost,by disposing of the traversing arms used heretofore and substituting`therefor a simpler construction that requires only a slight movement todirect t'ne outer strands of yarn to the opposite sides of the innercarriers.

@ne important feature of thev present invention, therefore, resides innoses that are pivotally mounted upon the inner carriers, and in pinswhich are supported in the path in which the noses travel to engage andshift them.

in some cases it may be desirable to change theorder in which the outerstrands ot yarn pass over and under the inner carriers, to thereby varythe form of braid produced. Another feature ofthe invention tl'iereforeresides in the construction whereby the position of the actuating pinsmay be readily varied to change the order in which the noses are tilted.

Still another feature oi' the invention resides in the construction ofthe outer yarn carriers that support the outer yarn masses.

Other features of the invention and novel combination ot' parts inaddition to the above will be hereinafter described in connection withthe accompanying drawings which illustrate one goed practical form ofthe invention.

1n the drawings Fig. 1 is a perspsctive view of a braiding machineconstructed in accordance with the present invention.

Fig. 2 is an enlarged perspective view of the inner yarn carriers andother parts of the braiding machine of Fig. 1.

Fig. 3l is a face view of one of the outer yarn carriers. y

l is a tace view of a portion of the outer revolving drum, showing` twooperating` pins in section.

Fig. 5 is a vertical sectional view of portion of the machinevof Fig. 1.

Fig. 6 is a top plan view of one of the tilting noses and associatrdparts, the por* tion of the revolving drum that supports a pin being`broken away, andl Fig. 7 is a diagrammatic view of the inner wall of therevolving drum and of two inner carriers.

rThe machine frame for supporting the braiding,` elements may be of anyusual or desired character suitable for this purpose, and as showncomprises a series of upstanding,` supports or legs 10 which support thetable 11. The table 11 is provided with a central iixed drum or core 12,which, in the present instance, is shown as having` an inner diamtermuch larger than the diameter of the braid. The central fixed drum 12 issupported by arms 13 extending inwardly from the annular table 11. 4 Anouter revolving drum 111 is supported to rotate about the lined drum 12and the revolving drum 111 has a laterally extending,` fiange portion 15whichv 'forms a connection'between the cylindrical portion ont the drum1li and its hub 1G. `Upon the upper edge of the outer revolving` drum141- is mounted a ring 17 which is insulated from the drum by theinsulating material 18 and the ring 17 has a downwardly extending`annular flange 19.

Upon the upper face of the ring 17 are mounted the frames 20 that 'formthe outer yarn carriers, and each frame 20 is constructed to support ayarn mass 21, the arrangement being1 such that these carriers aresupported by and rotate with the outer revolving` drum 14. Each outeryarn carrier 2O is shown as consisting of a base plate 22 which may besecured to the upper face of the ring 17 by screws 23 and the base plateis provided with uprights 211 which are spaced a sufficient distanceapart to lil() receive the yarn mass 21 between them. The uprights 24are conveniently formed integral with the base 22 and are provided withthe laterally extending arms 25 inthe upp r face of which is formed anotch 26 adapted to receive an end of the spindle that supports the yarnmass 21, the arrangement being such that the ends ofthe spindle of theyarn mass may be readily dropped in the slots 26 to mount the yarn massupon its carrienand may be easily lifted out of these slots to removethe yarn mass. The upper ends of the uprights 24 are connected by abridge bar 27 which is conveniently formed integral With the uprights,and the bridge vbar is providedwith spacLd upwardly extending earsk 28that vserve to limit the travel of the yarn 29 back and forth along theupper edge of the bridge bar, as it unwinds from the yarn mass. The baseplate 22 is conveniently provided with spaced lugs 30 adapted to supporta flexible blade 31 the upper end of which is held in yieldingengagement with the yarn mass 21 to prevent the yarn from univinding toofreely.

In the construction shown, the inner yarn carriers` 32 are supported torevolve about the axis of the braiding machine Within the revolvingdrum14 and each inner yarn carrier 32 consists of a hollow frame havinga central opening adapted to receive the inner yarn mass The inner endof each inner yarn carriery 32'is supported by a roller 84 adapted torest upon the track formed upon the upper face of the hub 86 of thefixed gear 37. This gear `is rigidly secured to the upper end of thecentra-l fixed drum or core 12, and a set screw 38 or other means may beprovided for rigidly securing thezhub 36 of this gear to the drum 12.

The means for supporting the outer ends of the inner carriers 32 may bevariously constructed, and in the present case each of the innercarriers is shown as provided at its outer end With a pair of spacedslices 39 adapted to extend into an annulaigroove 40 formed in the innerface of the outer revolving druin 14. These shoes are convenientlymounted in slots formed in the frame 32 and may be secured in place bybolts 41. and the shoes 39 are adapted to slide smoothly in the slot 40as the inner carriers travel about the axis of the braiding machine.

Various means may be provided for driving the inner carriers and in theconstruction shown, means to this end consists of an annular drivingframe 42 the hub 43 of Which is rigidly secured to an inner revolvingdrum 44 mounted to rota-te about the fixed central drum or core 12, andthe means for rotatably supporting the inner revolving drum 44 consistsof anti-friction balls 45 which lie in an annular groove formed in theupper face of a laterally extending portion 46 of the central core 12and the upper portion of these balls is received in an annular grooveformed in the under face of an annular flange 47.0f thedrum 44.

In the construction shown, the inner revolving drum 44 rotatablysupports the outer revolving drum 14, and to this end the hub 16 of theouter revolving erum is journaled upon the outer cylindrical portion ofthe inner drum 44 and the Weight of the drum 14 is'supported by anannular flange portion 48 of the inner revolving drum, which Piangeportion extends up Wardly from the laterally extending portion 49provided aty the lower end of the inner revolving drum 44. Anti-frictionballs 50 are provided between the .upper face of the upstanding portion48 and the under face the outer revolving drum and form an anti-frictionbearing for supporting the revolving outer drum 14.

ln order to rotate the enter revolving drum 14 and the driving frame 42for the inner carriers in opposite directions, the outer revolving drum14 is provided with a ring gear 51 rigidly secured to its under face bybolts 52, and the inner revolving drum 44 is provided with a similarring gear which is bolted to the flange portion 49 of the innerrevolving drinn below and in spaced relation to the ring gear 51. Abevel gear 54 positioned between these two ring gears, and rigidlysecured to the driving shaft l55, serves to rotate these ring gears inopposite directions, so that the outer revolving drum is rotated in onedirection While the driver 42 for the inner carriers is rotated in theopposite direction.

In order te impart the rotative movement of the driver frame 42 to theinner carriers, in the construction show-n, each inner carrier isprovided at its under face with a bearing block 56 havinga concavebearing surface adapted to receive a rotating driving disk 57, therebeing a driving` disk for each inner carrier, and each of these disks ismounted upon and is rotated by its shaft 58 journaled in a bearingbloclr secured to the driver frame, and at the inner end of each shaft58 is provided a bevel gear 60 that meshes with the teeth formed in theunder face of the fixed gear 37. iis a result of this construction,rotation of the driver frame Will cause the disks 5i' to drive the innercarriers and Will also positively rotate the driving disks 57 tofacilitate the passage of the strands of yarn 29 between the disks 57and cooperating blocks .3G as the inner carriers pass over the strandsof yarn. Each driving disk 57 is preferably provided With a number ofnot-ches 61 adapted to receive the strand of varn 29 as the strandpasses between the disk and block,

CTI

The notched driving dislr 57 and cooperating block 56 not only 'forms adriving means for the inner carriers which positively controls themovement 01"' the inner carrier, but may serve also to support theWeight of the inner carrier, so that the sliding shoes 39 may run morefreely in the annular groove 40.

rlhe means so :iar described vfor supportw ing and driving the innercarriers do not form a part of the present invention and it should beunderstood that the moans now to be described for directing the outerstrands of yarn over and under the inner carriers may be employed uponvarious different types of braiding machines.

As stated7 the present machine does not employ the traversing armscommonly used hereto-.tore to raise and lov-.fer the outer strands ofyarn, and the outer strands et yarn 29 from each yarn mass may thereforebe led from the bridge bar 26 of an outer yarn carrier downwardly thru aholle G2 in the ring 17, and then about a suitable guide which mayconstitute a round bar or ring 63 which surrounds the outer revolvingdrum 11i and is held in spaced relation to the outer Wall of this drumby brackets @fr The strands of yarn 29 pass from the bar 63 thruvertical slots 65 formed in the outer revolving drum 14 and then to thebraiding point, determined by the position ot' the lower end of thecentral guide sleeve 66.

Each inner carrier 232 is provided at its outer end with a relativelylong guide plate 67 which may have a central opening adapted to lit theouter end ot the inner carrier 82, as Will be apparent 'from Fig. 5, andthis guide plate may be rigidly secured to the inner carrier byproviding` the guide plate with laterally extending ears 38 which may besecured to the trame 32 by the bolts il that hold the slides 39 inplace. yThe Width of the guide plates 67 is such that it will cooperatewith the guide plates 69 at the inner end of the inner carrier, so thatthe guide plates 67 and 69 will hold the strands oi yarn 29 out ofengagement with the inner yarn mass 33 and guides upon the innercarrier.

U pon the forward end oi each guide plate 67 is pivotally mounted atilting nose 70, the same being pivotally secured to the guide plate bythe pivot pin 7l, and the rocking movement of each tilting nose may belimited by a pin 7 2 which projects into a slot- 7 3 formed in the guideplate. Each tilting' Vnose is pointed as shown and is positioned uponthe guide plate so that when its pointed nose is tilted downwardly itwill project under an outer strand of yarn 29 stretched from the guidering 63 to the braiding point, and Will direct this strand of yarn overthe guide plate 67, While if the end ot the tilting nose is pointedupwardly it will pass over such strand and Will direct the same underthe guide plate 67.

Different constructions might be provided tor shifting the tilting nose7 O, and in the construction shown the means for shitting the tiltingnose oir' each inner carrier consists ot a series of pins 7e mounted inthe vvall orl the outer revolving drum 11i below the annular groove 40ci the drum, and or a second series of pins 75 mounted in the wall ofthe revolving drum above the annular groove 40. The inner ends of thesepins project into the path traveled by the tilting noses 7 O, and serveto shift each tilting nose, as will be apparent from Fig. 7. 1t isimportant that each tilting nose be tilted to the desired positionbeiore it reaches an outer strand or' yarn 29 extending thru a verticalslot 65, and cach of the pins 7 -l and 75 is therefore locatedsutliciently near to a slot G5 to insure that the point oi" the tiltingnose will be properly positioned as it passesl such slot. Y l

1n some cases it may be desirable to vary the order in which the innercarriers pass over and under the outer strands of yarn and the pins 7aand 7 5 are therefore shown as slidably mounted in the Wall or' therevolving drum le so that each pin may be supported in either anoperative or inoperative position, and a pair of pins is preferablymounted adjacent each slot 65 so that either pin may be moved to itsoperative position in order that each tilting nose may be shifted eitherup or down as it approaches a particular slot, depending upon the typeof braid it is desired to form.

Simple means is provided for holding each pin in either its operative orinoperative position, and consists of the bent Wires 76 secured to theouter Wall oi" the drum la by screws 77 and these Wires have spacedresilient legs adapted to engage either one of a pair of annular groovestermed on each pin so that these resilient legs Will snap into onegroove or the other to hold the pins 74; and 7 5 in the desiredposition.

It is found that in the various types of braiding machines employinginner and outer yarn carriers, the strands of yarn which are stretchedfrom a point outside of the outer revolving` drum to the braiding pointtend to vibrate rapidly. rlhis vibration is in many cases undesirable,and is particularly objectionable when the yarn being braided is formedof asbestos or other relatively heavy material having low tensilestrength, as the vibrations may cause the yarn to breaku ln the presentconstruction this undesirable vibratory movement is prevented, and tothis end each guide plate 67 is made relatively long so that one guideplate Will remain in engagen'ient with a strand of yarn 29 and hold thesame from vibrating until the tilting nose of the next guide plate is130 nearly in positionto engage the strand of yarn, and as a `result theinterval of time which elapses while a particular strand of yarn is notengaged by a guide plate is so short that it does not have time tovibrate appreciably. ln this manner each vstrand of yarn 29 is causedyto remainpractieally still during the short interval of time whichelapses while it not engaged by a guide plate, and since the inner yarncarriers revolve rapidly in one direction, and the outer yarn carriersrevolve rapidly in the opposite direction, the pe lod of time which`elapses while one guide plate moves out ot enga-gementwith the strand ofyarn, and tne nose of the next guide plate moves into engagement withthe same is extremely short.

The outer Vstrands, of yarn are necessarily more or less elastic and thetension maintained upon these strands should be such that they may bedisplaced laterally by the guides 67 and to permit the inner carrier topass, but will return to the `normal straight line position as soon asthey are clear oic an inner carrier.

ln order to drive the braiding machine, the main operating sha-'it 55,which has the byel gear 5ft secured to its inner end, is -driven by abelt pulley 78, and a clutch 79 that is controlled by the hand-operatedlever 8O serves to start and stop the braiding machine, as is usual. Theoperating clutch is urged to its sha-'tt driving position by the tensionspring 8l and the lever 80 is held in its driving position by latchmechanism not shown, but which is controlled by the solenoid 82, thearrangement being such that when the electric current is supplied to thesolenoid the lever SO will be released'to step the braiding machine in awell known manner. Current may be supplied to the braiding machine bythe conductor wires 83 one et which leads to a switch 84E which isnormally open to cut oli thefsupply ot' current to the braiding machine,but which is under the control of the lever 80, so that when the leveris moved to the machine operatingI- position, an extension 85 upon thislever serves to hold the switch closed. is a result of this constructionelectric current will be supplied to the braiding machine only when thismachine is being operated, which is desirable.

ln the construction shown, electric current is supplied to the ring 17which is insulated from other parts of the braiding machine by a contactbrush SG and the brush -is insulated from and is supported by a linedarm 8T extending upwardly from a fixed ring 8S mounted upon the framell. As the outer revolving drum let rotates the contact brush S'G willslidingly engage the outer Vedge of the rino- 17 to supply current tothe saine. ln order that the current may pass 'from the insulated ring1T to the stop mechanism 89 of the inner carriers, each inner carrierhas a contact brush 90 which is held in sliding engagement with theinner face oic the downwardly extending flange portion lt) ot the ringl?. rlie other portions ozt the braiding machine nay be grounded asusual, so that when the electric stop mechanism 8S) ot the innercarriers is permitted to close the circuit between the insulated ring 1Tand grounded portions oit the braiding machine, the circuit will becompleted to actuate the solenoid 82 and stop the braiding machine in awell known ina-nner.

rlhe sleeve GG which determines the braiding point may be siipported bya liied arm 9i and the completed braid is shown as iassing upwardly tothe take-up mechanism QQ, which may be ot any usual or preferredconstruction. An indicating device 93, olf any well known construction,may be held in engagement with the completed braid 9a to iudipate theamount oit braid produced.

.li-ach outer strand of yarn 29 maybe lead hru the eye ot' stop lever 95which is sivotally mounted at 96 upon the outer re- 'oiving drum ll inposition to swing down- 'ardly under the l'orce ot Agravity to close the`electric circuit when an outer strand breaks or becomes too slack.

What is claimed is:

l. ln a braiding machine, in combination, outer and inner yarn carriers,means for revolving the carriers in opposite directions, tilting nosespivotally mounted on the inner carriers in position te engage thestrands of yarn passing inwardly troni the outer yarn carriers,y andabutments supported independently ot the inner carriers and in the pathot travel of the tilting noses to engage and tilt the noses and causethem to direct the outer strands ot' yarn alternately under and over theinner carriers.

In a braiding machine, in combination, means for supporting a series ot'outer yarn carriers and iior guiding the outer strands oit yarn inwardlyto the braiding point, -nieans for supporting and revolving a series oiinner yarn carriers, tilting noses mounted upon the inner yarncarriers,projections supported independently oi the inner yarn carriers inposition to contact with 'and shift the tilting noses as the projectionsand inner carriers pass each other to direct the outer strands of yarnalternately over 'and under the inner yarn carriers.

o. ln a braiding machine, in combination, an outer revolving drum, outeryarn carrie-rs mounted upon said drum, inner yain carriers, iii-cans forrevolving the outer and inner yarn carriers in opposite directions,tilting noses pivotally mounted upon the limer carriers, and pinsmounted upon the revolving drum in the path et travel ot the tiltingnoses and adapted to engage the iet LTI

noses and shift them to direct the outer strands o'j yarn either underor over the inner carriers.

ln a braiding machine, in co1nbination, an outer revolving drinnprovided with 'vertical slots thru which the strands oit' outer varapass to the braiding peint, outer yarn carriers mounted upon said drum,inner yarn carriers, means for siipporting and revolving the inner yarncarriers, a tilting nose upon each inner yarn carrier, and pins carriedby the outer revolving drum adjacent said vertical slots and adapted toengage the 'tilting noses and shift them as the pins and inner carrierspass each otherto direct the outer strands ot yarn either over or underthe inner yarn carriers.

5. In a braiding machine, in combination, an outer revolving drumprovided with vertical slots thru which the strands ot outer yarn passto the braiding point, outer yarn carriers mounted upon said drum, inneryarn carriers, means Yfor supporting and revolving the inner yarncarriers, tilting noses upon the inner yarn carriers tor directing theouter strands ot yarn over or under the inner carriers, and meanscarried by the outer revolving drum to project into the path of travelof the tilting noses and adapted to tilt the noses and positively holdthem in their tilted position as the noses approach said slots.

6. In a braiding machine, in combination, outer and inner yarn carriers,means for revolving the carriers in opposite directions, tilting nosesmounted upon the inner carrier in position to engage the strands oityarn passing from the outer yarn carriers to the braiding point todirect the strands over or under the inner carriers, Vpins supportedindependently ot the inner carriers in position to engage and shift thetilting noses, and means `ttor supporting the pins in differentarrangements t thereby vary the braiding operation of the braidingmachine.

7. In a braiding machine, in combination, an outer revolving drumprovided with vertical slots thru which the strands of outer yarn passto the braiding point, outer yarn carriers mounted upon said drum, inner yarn carriers, means for supporting and revolving the inner yarncarriers, tilting noses upon the inner yarn carriers for direoting theouter strands of yarn over or under the inner carriers, pins supportedby the revolving drum in position to engage and shift the tilting noses,and means for supporting the pins in different positions so that eachnose will be tilted up at a. particular slot under one adjustment of thepins, or down at that slot under another adjustment of the pins to varythe braiding operation.

S. ln a braiding machine, in combination, an enter revolving ,drumprovided with vertical slot-s thru which lthe strands of outer yarn passto the braiding point, outer yarn carriers mounted upon said drum, inner yarn carriers, means for supporting and revolving the inner yarncarriers, tilting noses upon the inner yarn carriers for diw recting theouter strands ot yarn over or under the inner carriers, and a pair otpins mounted upon the revolving drum adjacent each slot and movableindependently to and trom the nose tilting position so that if one pin.is adjusted to its operative position it will tilt the noses to passunder the strand of yarn passing thru said slot and it the other pin isadjusted to the operative position the nose will pass over the strand ofyarn.

ln a braiding machine, in combination, an outer revolving drum, havingan annular groove formed in its inner wall, outer yarn arriere mountedupon said drum, inner yarn carriers supported to travel about the axisot the braiding machine within said drum, means Jfor revolving the outerand inner carriers in opposite directions, projections upon the innercarriers extending into said annular groove, tilting` noses upon theinner carriers for directing the outer strands ot yarn under and overthe inner carriers, and pins extending inwardly from the inner wall ofsaid drum upon the opposite sides of the annular groove to shift thenoses.

l0. A yarn carrier ior the outer yarn mass ot a braiding machine,comprising an integral traine ot east metal having a supporting base,uprights extending upwardly from the base and spaced to receive a yarnmass between them and each having a slot for receiving an end oit thespindle upon which the yarn mass is mounted, and a bridge bar connectingthe upper ends of the uprigbts and having spaced ears upon its uppertace to limit the travel of the yarn along the upper 'face olf' thebridge bar as the yarn unwinds from the yarn mass.

ll. A yarn carrier .tor the outer yarn mass of a braiding machine,comprising a. base plate, uprights extending upwardly from the baseplate and spaced to receive a yarn mass between them, a bridge barconnecting the upper ends of the uprights and having spaced ears forlimiting the travel ot the yarn along the bridge bar as the yarn unwindsfrom the yarn mass.

12. A yarn carrier for the outer yarn mass ot a braiding machine,comprising a base plate, uprights extending upwardly from the base plateand spaced to receive a yarn mass between them, a bridge bar connecting`the upper ends oi' the uprights,` projections upon the base plate, and aspring tension plate supported by said projections -to bear .aga-instthe yarn mass.

i3. In a braiding machine, lin combinan tion, outer and inner yarncarriers, means for revolving the carriers in opposite directions,tilting noses pvotally mounted on the inner carriers in position toengage the strands of yarn passing inwardly from the outer yarnCarriers, und pins supported indevpendently of the inner carriers toextend into the `path traveled by the tilting` noses to engage and tiltthe noses and canse them to direct the outer strands of yarn alter- 10netely over and under theinner carriers. In testimony whereof, I havesigned my name to this specification.

OTTO A. FREDERIGKSON.

